, Having broken the government s monopoly in the national assembly, winning 28 of the 109 seats in last Sunday s legislative elections, the Démocrates have established themselves as the principal opposition force in Benin – and the only one represented in the national assembly. This leaves them placed to mount a presidential challenge in 2026, when any candidate will have to be nominated by parliamentarians.
For the first time in four years, Béninois voters should have a free choice to elect a new legislature in January, The country s constitutional system is starting to work again despite President Patrice Talon s authoritarian instincts. Last month the Constitutional Court ordered the Commission Électorale Nationale Autonome (CENA) to accept a revised list of parliamentary candidates submitted by the strongest opposition force, Les Démocrates and within days the commission complied, issuing the party with a valid registration receipt.